What's in My Bag

My bag is such a far cry from all the contents of my high school bag. I still shudder whenever I remember all those glittery and feathery things that I have amassed as a teeny bopper! Throughout the years, I have learned how to get rid of excess baggage. Apart from its literal context, weeding out insignificant loads in your life can make everything less onerous. 

This trusty Louis Vuitton Speedy deserves to be harped with praises. It's spacious and lightweight - things that make me fall for a bag. Since it's a Damier, cleaning it is not a strenuous task as well. 

 By all means, my Belle de Jour Power Planner and Barbie moleskin should never leave my bag for writing is one of my stress relievers. Furthermore, I'm a forgetful person and digital reminders just don't work for me.

I rarely change wallets which explains the already irregular shape of my gray Tory Burch wallet. You can likewise notice some bite marks courtesy of my baby Snowy.

My vintage kikay pouch and a wooden hairbrush from a random bazaar. My overused cat's eye sunglasses are from Firmoo - home of stylish yet affordable eyeglasses.

   Being in heels all day can be tiring, that's why when my soles start complaining, I depend on my Flipsters which basically stands for "foldable flipflops". 

Some of my essentials which cannot fit in my cosmetics pouch are also pictured above - Kiehl's Aromatic Blends Orange Flower and Lychee lotion, Katy Perry Purr perfume, Zen Nutrients All is Well Oil, and a sanitizer spray.

Finally, my phones. Even if I admit that I'm not that fond of texting, communication is vital so I apparently have no choice. ;p


What are your bag essentials?

Bisous,

Eunice♥

My Overused Office Shoes

Being clad in corporate wear does not mean that you're not entitled to be stylish. Gone are the days wherein office wear meant shapeless outfits. Despite the transition in corporate wear trend, my choice for shoes remains basic. 

Whether I'm in a structured blazer or peplum dress, I still opt for classic designs that can go from day to night events. Apart from being versatile, basic styles never fail to look classy. You can pair them with denim jeans and still look polished.

Here's a quick rundown of my overused black office shoes (we'll go to the nudes some other time):

The first pair is this snakeskin pumps from Charles & Keith. Paradoxically, even if the heels resemble a dagger, my soles do not complain whenever I wear them! It's the same thing with my other pairs from this brand. If you think that all heels are uncomfortable, then you haven't met Charles & Keith yet.

Next is a peep-toe slip-ons from Forever 21. It's made from chamois which makes it look dressy in an instant. The chunky heels also provide a good sole support without being heavy.

The white stains can attest that this platform peep-toes is my most abused pair! :D It was a post-birthday gift from my boyfriend which he got from Mango's Basic Collection. Since the heels are not that high, I find this pair perfect for errand days in the office. 

What are your go-to styles for office shoes?

Bisous,

Eunice♥

That Grateful List

As a girl whose hunger never seems to be satiated, I remember telling my man, "Babe, stop spoiling me with flowers. They're pretty but I cannot eat them. Sayang." It's not being ungrateful, it's being practical! :P To my surprise, he brought me this present while quipping, "Ayan, dinalhan kita ng bouquet na nakakain." What touches me is the fact that he pulled an all-nighter just to create this when he could have bought it easily. At times, I wonder about the things I did to deserve such a good man.

Another thing that impresses me about my man is the compassion that he exhibits for animals. In fact, one of our best dates even took place in a zoo. When we lost Winter (his 2nd anniversary gift to me), I was devastated beyond words. My family was similarly traumatized after months of bringing him in and out of the clinic. I admit it somehow felt unfair knowing that you did your best to fight. As overacting as it might seem, I prayed for Him to free me from pain and guilt. A month after, Snowy came, thanks again to my boyfriend. For me, he is not a replacement but a reaffirmation of Winter's incalculable love.

During those times of grieving, I really felt the concern from my family and my workmates. Perhaps some of my workmates cannot understand why I have to shed tears over a mere dog but I swear, their encouraging words truly helped me. I was surprised as well with the number of text messages that I got from friends and even from my former professor in the university. I didn't know that even as a mute creature, Winter was able to similarly touch their lives.

Speaking of workmates, things in the office continue to surprise me recently. For two years, I worked in the confines of my home. I had utmost control of my time and the pay was undeniably good. However, I felt something was amiss and so at the age of 20, I decided to go out and explore my options. Thankfully, I found a pressure-free place filled with people who are genuinely determined to help you grow. By all means, my current company breathes new meaning to "corporate world". Even if I'm surrounded with people armed with travel-related education and experiences, being scared to fit in didn't cross my mind.

I remember right after signing my contract, I received a call from an advertising firm offering me a job that's more "in-line" with my Journalism course. For days, I was confused. What if the offer that I received was my "The One That Got Away" job? Six months after, I think I made the right choice. 

Apart from having this pretty EOP Model present, I surprisingly ranked #8 in our worldwide top achievers' list for this quarter. These are the little things that make a newbie's heart flutter uncontrollably. Nonetheless, what truly inspires me to work is the amazing team that I'm truly proud to be part of. 

I hope I'll be able to make this type of list regularly. I believe that even if you're about to hit rock bottom, it's still important to keep track of all your blessings and realize that life isn't that bad. :)

What are the things that you're thankful for this week?

Bisous,

Eunice♥

Vous Etes Belle

It's a strange phenomenon that in Girl World, cutting yourself down seems to be the most appropriate response for a compliment. Rather than giving a meek yet wholehearted "thank you", we retaliate by using self-depreciating remarks. Through this "experiment", Dove proves that  you are more beautiful than you think you are. If in the mirror all you can see is a woman with large pores, aged features, frizzy hair, and so on, don't let such image get into you because someone else sees how lovely you are!

On a different side of note, I really have high respects for Dove because it's one of the rare beauty conglomerates that put so much meaning into their ads. These are the ads which do not shove their products down their target consumers' throats but instead inspire lives. In my previous blog (RIP, Multiply), I even remember musing about Dove's campaign about society's altered concept of beauty.

*Sigh*

Did your eyes get misty while watching the whole thing as well? :')

Bisous,

Eunice♥

Of Princess Crowns and Graceful Glides on Ice

I might be 21 but that day, I felt like I was part of the crowd. That crowd, if you will ask me, consisted of girls prancing around in their sparkly tiaras and fluffy costumes. It's as if they were there to support the Disney princess that they fancy.

Disney's Princesses on Ice was such a timely and thoughtful gift from my boyfriend since our Disneyland trip was pushed to a later date. He seemed pretty much oblivious to the fact that we were surrounded by giggling starry-eyed kiddos. The show took place last January 2 at the Araneta Coliseum but not-so-recent happenings made me wander for quite some time. 

While the show merely retells the story of each princess, what made it exceptional was the commingling of acting and skating.

Jasmine and Aladdin showing that love knows no status. I particularly loved the scene with the flying carpet as well as the genie's appearance from the magic lamp.

Snow White with the delightful dwarfs in tow.

The refined and gentle Belle. I was expecting for Beast's appearance but perhaps

 he wasn't in the mood to go out of his lair.

Ariel and Prince Eric's part was the longest. From the shipwreck to the final kiss that broke the curse, everything was detailed. I couldn't contain my happiness when they included Part of Your World - the Disney song which I embarrassingly love to sing during KTV sessions. 

Cinderella's story was short but that's okay for I already met her 

stealthy stepsisters last year. 

Rapunzel from Tangled had her brief moment as well. Even Tiana from Princess and the Frog showed up for a Broadway-inspired number.

Finally, my favorite princess of all time! 

I think a lot got scared with Aurora's tale because they included

 real fire in the production.

Even if I wasn't able to take home this lovely carriage, I was satisfied beyond words because the show rekindled the magical feeling that I used to get from my Dad's bedtime stories.

Bisous,

Eunice♥

When Time Doesn't Seem to Be Enough

As a self-confessed bibliophile, I have this moleskin wherein I write all the quotes that strike my soul whenever I read books. In accordance with this week's serenity, let me just share this piece from Mitch Albom's Timekeeper.

Last January, I lost one of my closest aunts to cancer. My Tita wasn't given ample time to wage her battle, her's was an abrupt case. It was in mid-December when she was hospitalized for recurring back pains. What we thought was a mere form of arthritis turned out to be Stage IV lung cancer. She was a selfless woman who devoted most parts of her life serving as a pastor's wife as well as a mother to my 5 cousins. I thought she would survive since her family relied on her so much. God had a different plan. Three weeks later, she passed away.

I didn't know that Winter's death would follow two weeks after. Even if I knew that he wasn't in a prime state after being diagnosed with several conditions, I ruled out the possibility of his death. I was ready to fight and I thought his body would do the same. I refused to believe that he could be taken away from me because in my "imagination", I would have 8 to 10 dogs upon acquisition of my own home and Winter would serve as the Kuya. Again, God probably said, "Child, it's not supposed to be that way."

When death knocks unexpectedly, you will have this urge to ask and mutter, "Why them? They don't deserve such and such." My Tita, when she was still alive, steered clear from things that could harm her health while Winter was perpetually pampered in our house. However, no matter how much you analyze, you will still end up with the truth that one's time is uncontrollable after all. When I was a preschooler, I feared death so much. I eventually understood why days were created to be limited. As one cheesy but true adage puts it, life isn't measured by the number of breaths that you have but by the number of moments that take your breath away.  

Living life to the fullest is a two-way path. We can feel as if we are being chased and haunted by the idea that our lives could end anytime and in an effort to make the most out of each day, we might make hasty decisions. As for the other path, I'm still praying that I'll be able to faithfully stick with it. It's the path wherein I'm mindful of how valuable time is but not to the extent that I get frustrated when the occurrences in my life are not that grand (though grandness in itself is subjective as well).

Experiencing loss, regardless of its form, truly serves as a wake-up call. Without loss or sacrifice, there's no way for us to appreciate what we have. I might have lost two significant fortresses but rather than mourning, I concentrate on the relieving truth that their pain wasn't permitted to last.

They might be gone too soon but God's timing is never wrong. We might not understand the reasons right away but surely they will be handed to us little by little in the most unanticipated ways. Entertaining feelings associated with sadness is certainly not a masochistic act but when it's all said and done, it still remains your call whether you'll see each happening as a blessing or fiasco. 

Bisous,

Eunice♥

Lovely Lumia Phones from Abenson

With the advent of smartphones, it can be a daunting task to narrow down one’s choices. For someone like me who has no penchant for techie whatnot, comparing the specifications of phones can be enough to trigger a migraine. Whenever I’m asked which phone brand is the best, Nokia’s user-friendliness comes first to my mind.

I remember my first steely Nokia 3210 which I got back in Grade 5. I had so much fun dressing it up with different cases and acetate designs that ranged from Disney Princesses to Powerpuff Girls! More than a decade later, it’s nice to know that Nokia has similarly amped up its phone selection.

Source

I’m currently eyeing the Nokia Lumia selection which comes in vibrant colors (sunshine-y yellow, anyone?) Even my brother who breathes Apple can’t help but admire the sleek design and improved apps of Lumia phones. 

Nokia Lumia 620, Lumia 820, and Lumia 920 are all powered by Windows 8 making it possible for you to enjoy apps incessantly.

Upon finding the model that’s apt for you, it’s crucial to select a reputable seller. I was once hasty to buy a new phone that I forgot to check the credibility of the seller. Imagine my frustration upon finding out that I went home with a defective purchase. Fortunately, the highly-acclaimed Abenson has convenient packages which you can truly take advantage of. You’ll likewise score exclusive freebies with your new phone!

Prior to making a purchase, you can visit your nearby Abenson shop to experience the features of the lovely Lumia phones.

What’s your main consideration when buying phones?

Bisous,

Eunice♥